Honeybees to Detect Explosives
Summary
In an era of growing security concerns worldwide, innovation in terms of providing security holds the key. Researchers at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) have started using honey bees to detect explosives. The honey bee antennae are finely tuned vapour sensors with a very high sensitivity. The detection process is known as Proboscis extension reflex (PER). Using Pavlovian techniques bees are trained to stick out their tongues as a conditioned response to explosive’s vapours. In the lab, honey bees are cooled to slow down their movements for handling purposes. They are then allowed to acclimatise in reusable harnesses after which they are tested for their ability to stick out their tongues by using sugar water. The trained bees are then placed in the prototype detection platform. This unit pulls air in the interior of the box. When the bees detect an explosive they “PER” or they give out an unambiguous sign of detection. This ability of bees has also been successfully demonstrated for DARPA (Defence advanced research project agency), The Southern Command and the Marines. Bees can also detect narcotics and other biological agents in land as well as on water. Keywords: security concerns, Los Alamos National Laboratory, LANL, honey bees, antennae, vapour sensors, Proboscis extension reflex, PER, Pavlovian, DARPA, Defence advanced research project agency, Southern Command, Marines
Keywords: security concerns, Los Alamos National Laboratory, LANL, honey bees, antennae, vapour sensors, Proboscis extension reflex, PER, Pavlovian, DARPA, Defence advanced research project agency, Southern Command, Marines
